Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom304[4.] Let us then believe and love God, that it may not be said of us, “They profess that theyknow God, but in their works they deny Him.” ( Tit. i. 16 .) And again, “He hath denied the faith,and is worse than an infidel.” ( 1 Tim. v. 8 .) For when he 2373 helps his domestics and kinsmenand strangers, while thou dost not even succor those who are related to thee by family, what willhenceforth be thy excuse, when God is blasphemed and insulted by reason of thee? Consider whatopportunities of doing good God hath given to us. “Have mercy on one,” He saith, “as a kinsman,on another as a friend, on another as a neighbor, on another as a citizen, on another as a man.” Andif none of these things hold thee, but thou breakest through all bonds, hear from Paul, that thou art“worse than an infidel”; for he having heard nothing of almsgiving, or of heavenly things, hathovershot thee in love for man; but thou who art bidden to love thy very enemies, lookest upon thyfriends as enemies, and art more careful of thy money than of their bodies. Yet the money by beingspent will sustain no injury, but thy brother if neglected will perish. What madness then to be carefulof money, and careless about one’s kindred? Whence hath this craving for riches burst in upon us?2374Whence this inhumanity and cruelty? For if any one could, as though seated on the highestbench of a theater, look down upon all the world,—or rather, if you will, let us for the present takein hand a single city,—if then a man seated on an elevated spot could take in at a glance all thedoings of the men there, consider what folly he would condemn, what tears he would weep, whatlaughter he would laugh, with what hatred he would hate; for we commit such actions as deserveboth laughter, and the charge of folly, and tears, and hatred. One man keeps dogs to catch 2375 bruteanimals, himself sinking into brutality; another keeps oxen and asses to transport stones, but neglectsmen wasting with hunger; and spends gold without limit to make men of stone, but neglects realmen, who are becoming like stones through their evil state. Another, collecting with great painsgolden quarries, 2376 puts them about his walls, but when he beholds the naked bellies of the poor,is not moved. 2377 Some again contrive garments over their very garments, while their brother hathnot even wherewithal to cover his naked body. Again, one hath swallowed up another in thelaw-courts; another hath spent his money on women and parasites, another on stage-players andtheatrical bands, 2378 another on splendid edifices, on purchases of fields and houses. Again, oneman is counting interest, another interest of interest; another is putting together 2379 bands full ofmany deaths, and doth not enjoy rest even at night, lying awake for others’ harm. Then, when it isday, they run, one to his unjust gain, another to his wanton expense, others to public robbery. 2380And great is the earnestness about things superfluous and forbidden, but of things necessary noaccount is taken; and they who decide questions of law have indeed the name of jurymen, but arereally 2381 thieves and murderers. And if one should enquire into law suits and wills, he would findthere again ten thousand mischiefs, frauds, robberies, plots, and about these things is all time spent;but for spiritual things there is no care, and they all inconvenience the Church, for the sake of seeing2373i.e. the infidel.2374εἰσεκώμασε2375σαγηνεύσῃ , “ sweep as with a seine net. ”2376for mosaic work, ψηφῖδας2377lit. “ bent. ”2378ὀ ρχήστρας , al. ὀ ρχηστὰς , “ dancers. ”2379al. “ putting. ”2380or, “ robbing the State, ” κλοπὴν δεδημοσιευμένην2381lit. “ have the reality of. ”457